GeoRealityMatch
Colorful San Pedro Belize sign illuminated under a starry night sky with palm trees and sandy beach.Vibrant riverside houses surrounded by palm trees and greenery under a blue sky.

Belize

North America · Central America

Affordable cost of livingHigh development
Safety
Homicides
28.1per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
48.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$7,530national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
13.6New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 42% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 1% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$7.5K$15K$14,966 PPP$7,865Inflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $5,525 a person, $9,910 at PPP, inflation -7.1%2007, $5,762 a person, $10,226 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2008, $5,712 a person, $9,975 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2009, $5,400 a person, $9,728 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2010, $5,461 a person, $9,748 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2011, $5,596 a person, $9,722 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2012, $5,733 a person, $9,303 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2013, $5,957 a person, $9,526 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2014, $6,128 a person, $9,490 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2015, $6,155 a person, $9,538 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2016, $6,141 a person, $9,399 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2017, $6,072 a person, $9,121 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2018, $6,012 a person, $9,497 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2019, $6,172 a person, $10,500 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2020, $5,239 a person, $9,639 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2021, $6,143 a person, $11,716 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2022, $7,068 a person, $13,459 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2023, $7,425 a person, $13,741 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2024, $7,681 a person, $14,367 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2025, $7,865 a person, $14,966 at PPP, inflation 1.1%$0$7.5K$15KInflation, % a year8%0200620102015202020252006, $5,525 a person, $9,910 at PPP, inflation -7.1%2007, $5,762 a person, $10,226 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2008, $5,712 a person, $9,975 at PPP, inflation 6.4%2009, $5,400 a person, $9,728 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2010, $5,461 a person, $9,748 at PPP, inflation 0.9%2011, $5,596 a person, $9,722 at PPP, inflation 1.6%2012, $5,733 a person, $9,303 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2013, $5,957 a person, $9,526 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2014, $6,128 a person, $9,490 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2015, $6,155 a person, $9,538 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2016, $6,141 a person, $9,399 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2017, $6,072 a person, $9,121 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2018, $6,012 a person, $9,497 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2019, $6,172 a person, $10,500 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2020, $5,239 a person, $9,639 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2021, $6,143 a person, $11,716 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2022, $7,068 a person, $13,459 at PPP, inflation 6.3%2023, $7,425 a person, $13,741 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2024, $7,681 a person, $14,367 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2025, $7,865 a person, $14,966 at PPP, inflation 1.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
73.7years, at birthModerate
#100 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
70WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
11.4PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
8.9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
51 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet51 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
$6,250 a month
Duration
6 months
Renewable
Unclear
Application fee
BZD 500about $250
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed, $100 each
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • NationalitiesOpen to all
Official page
Vibrant riverside houses surrounded by palm trees and greenery under a blue sky.
How it changed

Belize's Human Development Index

0.721High human development

115th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 17th of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #113Indonesia0.728
  2. #114Suriname0.722
  3. #115Belize0.721
  4. #115Libya0.721
  5. #117Jamaica0.720
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.617 in 1990 to 0.721 in 2023.

0.550.650.750.72119902000201020231990: 0.6171991: 0.6261992: 0.6341993: 0.6401994: 0.6431995: 0.6471996: 0.6501997: 0.6541998: 0.6571999: 0.6642000: 0.6712001: 0.6762002: 0.6862003: 0.6962004: 0.7032005: 0.7002006: 0.7132007: 0.7182008: 0.7202009: 0.7242010: 0.7272011: 0.7252012: 0.7272013: 0.7242014: 0.7212015: 0.7212016: 0.7272017: 0.7222018: 0.7232019: 0.7252020: 0.7132021: 0.7132022: 0.7172023: 0.7210.550.650.7519902000201020231990: 0.6171991: 0.6261992: 0.6341993: 0.6401994: 0.6431995: 0.6471996: 0.6501997: 0.6541998: 0.6571999: 0.6642000: 0.6712001: 0.6762002: 0.6862003: 0.6962004: 0.7032005: 0.7002006: 0.7132007: 0.7182008: 0.7202009: 0.7242010: 0.7272011: 0.7252012: 0.7272013: 0.7242014: 0.7212015: 0.7212016: 0.7272017: 0.7222018: 0.7232019: 0.7252020: 0.7132021: 0.7132022: 0.7172023: 0.721

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
73.7 years2024at birthUp 3.4 years from 70.3 years in 2005
Internet users
80%2024of people onlineUp 56 points from 24% in 2006
Urban population
42%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 5 points from 46% in 2006
Births per woman
2.022024births per womanDown 1.15 from 3.17 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
31%2022of energy usedUp 5 points from 26% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 16 points from 84% in 2005
Infant mortality
112024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 6 from 17 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.9 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.4 t from 0.5 t in 2005
Forest area
55%2023of land under forestDown 8 points from 63% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

English-speaking Central America: Mayan ruins, a barrier reef, relaxed jungle lifestyle.

About Belize

Belize is a small Central American country with a Caribbean coast, the second largest barrier reef in the world, and a lush interior of jungle, Maya ruins, and cave systems that make it a paradise for nature lovers and divers. The culture is an unusual blend of Caribbean, Maya, Garifuna, and colonial British influences, giving it a distinct character unlike its Spanish-speaking neighbours. Those expecting polished infrastructure will need to adjust their expectations.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBelmopan
  • LanguagesBelizean Creole, English, Spanish
  • CurrencyBelize dollar (BZD)
  • Area22,810 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Belize's Human Development Index?

Belize's Human Development Index is 0.721 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #115 of 193 by UNDP.

How expensive is Belize?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Belize at 46.9 (New York = 100); that is #86 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Belize?

Life expectancy at birth in Belize is 73.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #100 of 195 countries.